Prepress
UK-Based The Printing House Switches to Presstek Aeon Thermal Plates
Tuesday 08. June 2010 - Crewe firm chooses Presstek Aeon based on cost-effectiveness, smaller environmental footprint, and exceptional customer service
Presstek, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRST), a leading supplier of digital offset printing solutions to the printing and communications industries, today announced that The Printing House in Crewe, UK has adopted Presstek Aeon, a no bake thermal plate, for use with its Heidelberg Suprasetter platesetter to support its three B2 format Sakurai presses. The transition to Aeon plates was seamless, according to the company.
Peter Harrison, joint managing director together with Paul Springthorpe, is pleased with the results The Printing House is achieving with Aeon, and with the support he is receiving from Presstek. “Customer service was a big factor in choosing Presstek,” he says. “Their service engineers are very knowledgeable and very proactive.”
Harrison was also seeking a more affordable solution compared to his previous plates. “Aeon plates are very cost effective,” he added. “It goes beyond the cost of the plates, since the processing chemistry has a much longer life than the old system. Its a different chemistry, greener and less aggressive, with a bath life of five to six weeks compared to two to three weeks for the previous chemistry we were using. Using 3,000 to 4,000 plates per month, the extended chemistry life becomes a real consideration.” Harrison also points out that the plates are delivering very good quality and on-press performance. “We see Aeon being able to meet all of our plate needs,” he comments.
The Printing House, established in 1991, currently employs 37 people and handles all types of printing work. In addition to its three B2 format Sakurai presses, the company recently installed a Xerox DocuColor 5000AP and a Mimaki JV-33 light solvent inkjet printer.
“Our success with Aeon at The Printing House confirms that our strategy of offering an open platform plate suitable for larger printers is working,” said Peter Swann, UK National Sales Manager for Presstek. “Based on our plate audits, I believe other printers will be able to achieve similar results; and we look forward to working with them.”
Presstek Aeon Highlights
Imaged on 830 nm CTP systems from a range of manufacturers, including Pressteks Compass and Dimension Pro Series
Long run length durability (200,000 unbaked, one million baked)
Image resolution of 1% to 99% dots at 200 lpi and FM screening
High sensitivity for fast imaging speeds
Excellent developer and replenisher yield